don’t blink !!
summer stunner . . !!
‘BENNY MERRIS: FLASH!’
up thru . . SAT JULY 30, 2022 / & now extended thru SAT AUG 6th !!!!
that’s . . . 3 more weeks !!
HEROES GALLERY, 162 ALLEN ST., LOWER EAST SIDE, NYC 10002
HRS: WED-SAT / 12 noon – 6 pm
for background text / installation photos, see: Current Exhibition – ‘Benny Merris: flash!’
BENNY MERRIS, ‘An Other Another 198’, 2022.
archival pigment print, custom frame with museum glass
30.5 x 40.5 in. framed
image via HEROES GALLERY
BENNY MERRIS, ‘An Other Another 214’, 2022.
archival pigment print, custom frame with museum glass
24.5 x 18.5 in. framed
image via HEROES GALLERY
BENNY MERRIS, ‘An Other Another 188’, 2022.
archival pigment print, custom frame with museum glass
40.5 x 30.5 in. framed
image via HEROES GALLERY
BENNY also has an archival pigment print – in the ‘Painting As Is II’ exhibit, Nathalie Karg Gallery.
here he is on the right, at the opening – June 27, 2022.
with him, collaborative duo . . BLINN & LAMBERT aka KYLE WILLIAMS & NICHOLAS STEINDORF.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH / unless otherwise noted
~BENNY MERRIS . . ‘flash!’ / HEROES / up thru JULY 30 . . now extended thru – SAT AUG 6 !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 16th, 2022, 1:16pm
turns out, this summer belongs – to the city !!
‘PAINTING AS IS II’ – CURATED BY TIM WILSON & HEIDI HAHN
JUNE 28 . . up thru AUG 26, 2022
NATHALIE KARG, 291 GRAND ST., NYC 10002
HRS: TUES-SAT / 10 AM – 6 PM
a provocative, yet joyous look at just how diverse – ‘painting’ is . . now.
from whimsical to graphic . . to the absolute, outright breaking – of conservative conventions.
overall, the take-away is . . that visuality – rules !!
the voyage to a painterly ‘surface’ – is no longer always stationary, but can be multi-faceted, sculptural,
if not even . . 3-dimensional, if not even . . infinite, as in digital projection.
in short . . the curators put forward, a wonderful swirl – of new thinking.
PIX FROM THE OPENING – TUES EVENING, JUNE 27, 2022 / NYC
PHOTOS BY – NANCY SMITH
so . . this is how !!
those curious chunks of landscape-looking paintings on the show’s flyer, really are in person !!
dancing between realism, and sculpture, they are . . indeed 3-D wall mounts.
and so, the . . questioning – begins.
JAMES HYDE, series of 3 small ‘chunky’ paintings, done between 1998 and 2004 /
Fresco on styrofoam / 14 x 13 x 14 in. / 15 x 17 x 13 in. / 16 x 14 x 14 in.
JAMES HYDE, so nice to see the artist – at the opening !!
NATHALIE KARG – she pretty much let the art do the talking, and,on a hot summer’s eve – that was so pleasant.
while the city outside felt gritty, the art – was circling around the space, ahead of the conventional curve.
but, through it all ran an intelligence / it all felt like a discussion, and, not a chaos.
not a discord. it was a river, not a wall.
the curators: HEIDI HAHN & TIM WILSON.
it was as if, they had held out their arms, and embraced different ‘forms’ of painting.
the one whole thought, holding the wide array together / being that their visual impression or impact . .
was . . key.
DAN WALSH, ‘Sequence’, 2019. (detail)
Acrylic on canvas / 55 x 55 in.
JAENA KWON, ‘Tear’, 2017.
Acrylic on light density fiberboard / 27 x 30-1/2 x 1 in.
shaped canvas ‘paintings’, have long been considered paintings, so, why not go – all the way !!
towards . . 3-D sculpture, and even – digital projection.
note: the depth of the work, has been noted in the artwork description… 1 in. (!!)
at first glance, this seems a straight-forward, though complex, transparent & subtle colored / painting on a wall.
Not.
BLINN and LAMBERT / aka NICHOLAS STEINDORF & KYLE WILLIAMS, ‘Ampersand’, 2019.
Two-channel 16mm film
1:47 loop, silent. Edition of 3 plus 2 artist’s proofs
KYLE WILLIAMS, 1/2 of the collaborative duo: BLINN and LAMBERT.
the stance of a theoretical – provocateur ?
the crux of the matter – behind him,
on the left: BLINN and LAMBERT’s digital . . painting ‘surface’.
on the right: the transparency of a more conventional painting, by NATHLIE PROVOSTY.
NATHALIE PROVOSTY, ‘June 21, 2022’, 2022.
Oil on linen / 36 x 23 in.
BLINN and LAMBERT / aka KYLE WILLIAMS & NICHOLAS STEINDORF, with BENNY MERRIS.
BENNY MERRIS, ‘An Other Another 194’, 2021.
Archival pigment print in artist frame / 40-1/2 x 30-1/2 in.
things work both ways, this is a print. is a ‘pigment’ print – a painting ?
why, not ?
SARAH BRAMAN, ‘Fit’, 2022.
Maple and glass / 40 x 29 x 23 in.
I had never thought of Sarah’s free-standing assemblages – as ‘paintings’, but – seriously . . why, not !!
though the shapes are interesting, especially in their contrasting materials, yet harmonious, and very basic 3-D functionality, what really captures one’s imagination – are the play of the colors, and the light, and the qualities of opaque vs transparent. and, especially how the colored light – interacts with its environment.
and, I guess that would include considering how the center ‘hole’ of the wood base – does too.
just thinking of this ‘sculpture’ – as a ‘painting’, brings so much more of this creative statement / and the properties
of the different materials it is beholden to / wood vs. colored glass / to life.
a painting is a sculpture is a free-standing assemblage, definitely.
especially – on a hot summer’s night !!
OREN PINHASSI, Urinal (NYC I), 2018 + Urinal (NYC II), 2018.
Glass, steel, plaster, burlap sand, and pigment / 57-1/2 x 19-3/4 x 20-1/8 in.
and then we have: Oren Pinhassi !!
is the space inside, between the shapes – the painting, that’s the . . stretch !!
THERESA DADDEZIO, ‘Magnetized Bloom’, 2021.
oil on linen / 36 x 24 in.
which is to say, even conventional flat painted surfaces – react to their surroundings.
and the total effect – is a painting ??
ROCHELLE FEINSTEIN, ‘Sampler 1984/2020’, 2022.
acrylic, enamel spray paint, yarn, and embroidery floss on cotton drop cloth / 50 x 50 in.
yes, I would say – this a painting /
just the way a quilt – is not a bed-covering / it’s a painting: a visual composition, an inspiration.
dropping by the opening,
HAILEY JOSEPHS . . at center /
and yes, a t-shirt – can be a painting. :) :) !!
MINKA FARTHING KOHL, DP / Director of Photography.
I bet he might have something to say – on all of this.
photography vs painting vs the world !!
CHRIS WATTS .. painter & now I guess – media celeb !!
now, that’s an obtuse . . consideration, in its own right / painter vs celebrity, :) :) !!
CHRIS WATTS . . is one of the young artists featured in ‘THE ART of MAKING IT’ . . !!
a new documentary about the struggles vs ambitions (!!) in the art world, directed by KELCEY EDWARDS,
and which opened at the IFC Center in NYC, this past JUNE 29th,
and runs thru . . Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
CHRIS WATTS , one of the featured artists in . . ‘THE ART of MAKING IT’.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~’PAINTING AS IS II’ . . NATHALIE KARG / PIX FROM THE OPENING |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 2nd, 2022, 11:24am
‘PAINTING AS IS II’. . . CURATED BY TIM WILSON & HEIDI HAHN
OPENS TUES JUNE 28 / 6 – 8 PM
and runs thru . . . AUG 28, 2022
NATHALIE KARG GALLERY, 291 GRAND ST., 4th Fl, NYC 10002
HRS: TUES – SAT / 10 AM – 6 PM
with: LISA BECK, BLINN & LAMBERT, ROBERT BORDO, SARAH BRAMAN, THERESA DADDEZIO, DENNIS DELGADO, MARTHA DIAMOND,
OLIVIA DRUSIN, ROCHELLE FEINSTEIN, JACKIE FENG, MEENA HASAN, JAMES HYDE, OLIVIA JIA, MARINA KAPPOS, CAROLINE KENT,
JAENA KWON, BENNY MERRIS, ELIZABETH McINTOSH, OREN PINHASSI, NATHLIE PROVOSTY, CRAIG TAYLOR, & DAN WALSH
POSTER-FEATURED ART by: JAMES HYDE
~’PAINTING AS IS II’ . . big group show curated by TIM WILSON & HEIDI HAHN / NATHALIE KARG / OPENS TUES JUNE 28 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | June 26th, 2022, 9:19am
‘SILVER HORSESHOE’ . . a 9 female artist group show
OPENS TO-NITE / FRI JUNE 24 / 6 – 8 PM
and runs thru . . . AUG 7, 2022.
HYACINTH GALLERY, 179 Canal St. #4B, DOWNTOWN NYC 10013
HRS: FRI, SAT, SUN: 12 PM – 6 PM
or by app’t
‘SILVER HORSESHOE’ . . IS CURATED BY: JENNIFER CALANDRA
FEATURING: LEE DAWSON, ABBY HORETZ, AHMRII JOHNSON, CASSIDY McGINLEY,
CHELSEA NYEGAARD, MELODY TUTTLE, VIDEO BY: SOMER STAMPLEY & SARDE HARDIE,
CAKES BY (Lulu) BODEGA CAKES
“SILVER HORSESHOE . . brings together 9 female artists working in a range of media
to address concepts of femininity as they exist as an art historical trope, a compositional
strategy, and a cultural manifestation.”
~gallery
see more: EXHIBITIONS/SILVER HORSESHOW/HYACINTH GALLERY
~’SILVER HORSESHOE’ . . GROUP SHOW / HYACINTH / OPENS FRI JUNE 24 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | June 24th, 2022, 1:27pm
anybody else – up for some . . Magic Realism ?
STIPAN TADIC: ‘VISIONS of the CITY’
opens Thurs June 23 / 5-8 PM
and runs thru . . . JULY 31, 2022
ATM NYC, 54E HENRY ST., LOWER EAST SIDE, NYC 10002
STIPAN TADIC, ‘Central Park’, 2022
oil on canvas / 78 x 60 in.
image via Instagram @stipan.tadic / Stipan Tadic
detail . . .
detail . . .
detail . . .
all 3 detail images via Instagram @stipan.tadic
~STIPAN TADIC . . ‘VISIONS of the CITY’ / ATM NYC / OPENS THURS JUNE 23 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | June 22nd, 2022, 10:00am
MELISSA BROWN . . has a truly awesome, wonder-full painting / in the big group show:
‘Nothing is to be done for William T. Wiley’,
PARKER GALLERY, 2441 Glendower Ave., LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
HRS: Wed-Sat / 12 – 6 PM
the show opened June 12, and continues thru . . AUGUST 6, 2022
see more about the exhibit: EXHIBITIONS-PARKER GALLERY
MELISSA BROWN, ‘Window with Bananas’, 2022.
Flashe, oil, acrylic on dibond / 32 x 50 in.
image via Instagram @boogiebrowntown / Melissa Brown
~MELISSA BROWN . . ‘Nothing is to be done for William T. Wiley’ / PARKER GALLERY, L.A. |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | June 21st, 2022, 9:31am
PERSEVERANCE v. SUBSERVIENCE / think on it.
‘BLACK DOLLS’ . . FEB 25 – JUNE 5, 2022
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 170 CENTRAL PARK WEST at 77TH ST, NYC
TICKETS: VISIT / NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SEE INTRO: ‘BLACK DOLLS’ / NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PHOTOS FROM THE EXHIBIT . . BY NANCY SMITH / MARCH 5, 2022
‘Doll in blue dress’, Eastern US or Canada, ca. 1865-70
handmade,’scrap/rag doll, cotton, paint / for the features on the face.
male servant / house doll, with an ‘iron enslavement collar’ (looks to be wrapped wire) /
so that he could not run away, and, to keep him mentally . . subservient.
one does not need a caption, to understand that this is an enslaved person.
some dolls are happier play than others / but all – reflect their times.
simple worded wall texts, and display captions – help with the background info and context,
without being . . inflammatory. facts are presented just as straightforward, and honest, . . as could be / with an even-handed emphasis on the doll making, as much as the greater social commentary.
there are also a lot of wonderful, original historic photos / which speak as direct witness to the times.
the text reads:
“Expressions of resilience and creativity, perseverance and pride, love longing. The handmade Black dolls that populate this exhibit have a lot to say. Stitched largely by Black women for their own children or white youngsters under their care, the dolls were ingeniously
crafted from materials at hand. Their faded clothing, torn bodies, and sundry repairs evoke vigorous play and lost conversations, and call up images of the children that cuddled, pampered, and mistreated them.
Made in the U.S. between the 1850s and the 1940s, these dolls span a tumultuous period in American history marked by slavery, legalized segregation, and entrenched racism. These works are mute about their specific histories, yet every stitch and swatch was a deliberate choice. The makers. mostly unknown to us, created toys that expressed their inner lives and intangible feelings while challenging pervasive stereotypes.”
note: the dolls on display are from the collection of DEBORAH NEFF, unless otherwise noted.
the ‘interactive’ stations are both fun, and . . hands-on informative.
this presentation lets you experience the ‘recycled’ / mostly used or left-over scraps / and sometimes straight out . . rags that made up the majority of the dolls.
the so-important black material used for the bodies, and faces usually came from worn-out woolen socks, or finer cotton stockings.
this exhibit is so, so excellent. especially in that it was really fun,
and seriously: thoughtful, a vivid, even intimate learning experience, and, not just a purely conceptual, nor overtly motivated one. glorious DIY – was the order of the day.
deeply rooted, and varied – just like the people who made them.
although harsh reality was not excluded, these after-all were dolls, not weapons.
although if words can be weapons, I guess – so can dolls.
but overall, a joyous pride of improvised creativity, that not only expressed a tough era, and perhaps a hardened ‘inner’ life . . but, which also delighted young children, sets the dominant warm tone /
while demonstrating and explaining the range of skills and fabrication – along the way.
DIY: re-cycled !! hand-stitched !! home-made !! creative !! expressive !! useful.
and, necessary.
where the link to both universal ancestral human artistry,
and, the very ‘heart’ of our cutting-edge contemporary art . . . meet.
I only wish this exhibit – could have continued on through the summer.
and, I bet – I’m not the only one.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~’BLACK DOLLS’ . . NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY / FINAL WEEKEND !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | June 4th, 2022, 8:10am
hand-made dolls of (a troubled) yesterday v. violent video games of (an unthinkable) today /
. . . think about it.
teach those boys – more trades. more skills. teach those boys . . how to knit.
and, it’s not a joke – btw.
if you want to talk about society though the lens of both history and art /
but most specifically: before and after the Internet / this is your . . baby !!!
DO NOT – DO NOT / DO NOT – MISS !!!!!!!!!
ONLY !! 2 weekends – left !!!!!!!!
for tickets: NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY: VISIT
if I was ever – put on this earth for a reason, it was to tell you about . .
this exhibit / it is truly such an amazing, living, breathing . . opportunity !!
it is so right on, so relevant, and even more so / most sadly, today.
and, I do mean: today / May 26, 2022.
presenting a wide range of . . handmade cloth dolls,
made primarily by African American woman between 1850 – 1940 /
this exhibit . . is just so wonderfully laid out – too.
including a rich & charming range of narrative ‘props’, from period sepia-toned photographs, through imaginary dollhouse displays, onto actual antique work baskets, and a nice sampling of the common household, re-cycled materials that were used.
and btw, the exhibit . . includes some of the best written museum text labels, too.
brief, informative, charming, and exact.
this very folk art & history driven exhibit is often surprising, which is so thrilling / but it’s just flat-out definitely super, super interesting . . for all:
from young child, to pre-teen friendship-bracelet weaver, to well: us . . . all.
it is the story of American history, society, and . . . yes: art !!
that’s Art with a capital A / I’m talking . . cutting-edge American art.
and, how we got here.
no doubt about it /
and, the intersection – is an absolute wake-up call.
‘Black Dolls’ . . .
is so full of love, laughter, and . . inevitably: tears.
but, tears / are not . . . death.
tears are not mowing down young children – tears are about raising them up / even in struggle.
heavy-lifting it was. but, tears are not . . violence.
Unidentified photograph, Woman and Children with Black Cloth, handmade Dolls, 1942.
Gelatin silver print, Deborah Neff Collection
image via Instagram @nyhistory / New-York Historical Society
‘BLACK DOLLS’ . . . . Feb 25 – JUNE 5, 2022
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 170 CENTRAL PARK WEST at 77the Street / NYC
note: including a . . ‘pathway of labels for younger visitors, age 5-12’,
and including some delightful, ‘interactive stations’ – for all !!
I know first-hand !!
for definite sure – I jumped over there / the very first weekend !!
SO .. get those tickets: BOOK YOUR TICKETS !!!!!
more exhibit info: ‘Black Dolls – New-York Historical Society’
‘Black doll in gentleman’s top coat’, 1860-70, Milton, MA / Maine.
hand-made, DIY / mixed fabrics, leather, brass, glass
Deborah Neff Collection
Photo: ELLEN McDERMOTT / via New-York Historical Society
check out: NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Instagram, @nyhistory
~’BLACK DOLLS’ / NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY / up thru JUNE 5 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 26th, 2022, 9:03am
TO-NIGHT !!!!!!!
ANDREW FRANCIS joins in a big group show . . . ‘RED MEANS GO’ / !!!!!
OPENING SAT MAY 21 / 6 – 10 PM
and runs thru . . JUNE 18, 2022
“PLEASE WEAR RED” . . . . !!!!!
TOMATO MOUSE, 301 Saratoga Ave, Brooklyn NY
HRS: FRI & SAT / 1 – 7 PM
& BY APPOINTMENT
the show is curated by: REBECCA BIRD & ZEV GUSTAFSON
with: ANDREA BURGAY, LUCY WILNER, DAVID McBRIDE, JAYNIE CRIMMINS, JILL SNOFFIETI, TRAVIS CHILDERS, ALEXA HOYER, ANDREW FRANCIS, LENA CHRISTAKIS, TZIREL KAMINETZKY, MEREDITH STARR & DANA LEAVIT
check out: ANDREW FRANCIS on Instagram @andrewmeriwetherfrancis
check out: TOMATO MOUSE GALLERY on Instagram @tomato.mouse
~ANDREW FRANCIS . .’RED MEANS GO’ / GROUP SHOW / TOMATO MOUSE, BROOKLYN / OPENS SAT MAY 21 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 21st, 2022, 12:09pm
if you’re in . . . MILAN !!
check out ‘NY to MILAN’ / a 4 artist group show
running thru JUNE 18, 2022
F2T Gallery, Via Statuto 13, Milan, Italy.
featuring work by:
LIOR MODAN, OPAL MAE ONG, JULIE SEVERINO, STIPAN TADIC
STIPAN TADIC, ‘Rene Smoking’, 2022.
oil on board, 50 x 40 cm.
(roughly: 19-1/2 x 15-1/2 in.)
image via STIPAN TADIC Instagram @stipan.tadic
STIPAN TADIC . . is a painter from Croatia/Zagreb currently based in NYC.
check out: STIPAN TADIC on Instagram @stipan.tadic
check out: F2T Gallery, Milan on Instagram @f2tgallery
~STIPAN TADIC . . ‘NY to MILAN’ / F2T/ MILAN |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 21st, 2022, 11:36am
